Wet fields continue to make this a challenging year for local farmers. Purdue Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator Phil Woolery says farmers haven’t been able to get much work done so far.
“This is not just confined to our area or even Indiana,” he says. “It’s pretty widespread throughout the Midwest. It’s kind of a historic year behind schedule on a lot of planting.”
Woolery adds that later planting leads to lower yield potential. “So after a certain point in May, you’re starting to look then, with soybeans, losing half a bushel a day, it could be,” he says. “You just have less time to grow, so your yield is typically going to be a little lower potential there.”
Still, Woolery says the local area appears to be faring better than most of the state. “I would guess we’re probably at least 50-percent done at this point, which isn’t good because most farmers are probably, on a normal year, finishing up at this point; but considering other parts of the state, some farmers haven’t even started. We have better soil conditions for that.” He says he’s heard some reports of wind damage from recent storms, but the wet fields remain the bigger concern.
